Pape Meissa Gueye: "Wallu Culture is nothing more than a politically motivated project."

Some perceive the creation of the Wallu Culture association as a means of serving personal and political interests. Faced with this situation, Pape Meissa Gueye, an actor, director, entrepreneur, and independent figure in the cultural scene, expressed his disapproval in this interview with Seneweb. He asserts that the State must develop appropriate public policies to revitalize the sector, while emphasizing the need for cultural actors to remain united and supportive, separate from political spheres.

Why do you have reservations about the creation of Wallu Culture?

I have no reservations, but as a cultural professional with experience, I can't help but be skeptical. Cultural organizations have always existed. Everyone tries to launch a cause that seems collective, but ultimately it's for personal gain. Currently, there are dozens of organizations, and they have no effect on the sector. And why are the organizers of this movement waiting until now to speak out when things have happened without them reacting? Every time there's a new government, new organizations spring up. A good cultural organization should play a role of alerting and monitoring, not simply aligning itself with public policies.

If Wallu Culture believes it has a sacred duty to demand a fair sharing of revenues derived from mineral and energy resources, particularly so that culture is no longer the poor relation of these sectors, don't you think that's fair game?

Natural resources belong to everyone. Culture needs a well-thought-out and well-planned policy. It is this cultural policy that defines the mechanisms for finding funding for culture. I believe this organization is nothing more than a political mandate. It certainly appears to be.

However, Wallu Culture's mission statement clearly states that culture should be a genuine driver of development for Senegal. Doesn't this point convince you?

Culture as a lever for development. It's a song we're used to hearing. We must work towards a strong cultural civil society. I swear to you that these organizations are just there to settle personal scores, especially to eye positions in the Senegalese state. Senegal established the National Coalition for Cultural Diversity, and among these actors who are stirring things up today, none have worked to revive this coalition.

You believe that this association has political ambitions, but don't you think that nowadays, to better defend one's interests, it is rather strategic to be present in the bodies where decisions are made?

All cultural actors united could constitute a political force, but this is impossible. Everyone thinks they are important and looks out for themselves. Today, as I said, we must implement a sound cultural policy, and that falls under the purview of the state. The hypocrisy that reigns in this sector means that the true destroyers of culture are within the cultural sector itself.

Given that the former associations have never managed to obtain a significant share of the funding allocated to the various sectors for culture, why couldn't Wallu Culture, made up of major figures in the field, succeed?

In Senegal, we know each other in the cultural sector. These people from Wallu Culture were also involved in these associations. A lot has happened without these people reacting. In 2024, Aliou Sow, the then Minister of Culture, organized the National Festival of Arts and Cultures (FESNAC) in Fatick, Macky Sall's hometown, with the theme: " Macky Sall, Arts and Heritage ." No one reacted, even though this theme is neither artistic nor creative. We can't just remain silent all this time and then suddenly come along and bombard us with criticism.

If you were in their place, what would you have done to appear more credible, as you imply?

In their place, I would have called for the revival of the dormant national coalition for cultural diversity. With all these existing organizations, we don't need another one; we need to build something new within what already exists.